The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the vandalism and arson in Lagos by hoodlums who have hijacked the #EndSARS protests.
It condemned attempts to spark off a war between the Igbo and Yoruba following the ethnic colouration that has been given to the ongoing protests by youths.
Ohanaeze condemned the destruction of property belonging to the Yoruba, particularly in Lagos State, amid the protest against police brutality.
In a statement made available to journalists yesterday, the President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, expressed dissatisfaction with the statement by a Yoruba group, the Apapo O’Odua Koya (AOKOYA), alleging that Igbo youth were involved in the Lagos protest as part of plans to destroy the economy of the Yoruba.
He said Ohanaeze believes that the press statement is craftily drafted showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to set the Yoruba against Ndigbo.
Nwodo said the organisation was ready to resist all disagreements, knowing the historical affinity of the two great ethnic groups dating back to the days of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe through to the famous handshake across the Niger propagated by Ndigbo’s iconic leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu.
He said: “This spontaneous relationship built by our forefathers over the years has been strengthened in the last three years by the political emancipation movement, being propelled by the Southern and Middle Belt leadership Forum (SMBLF) made up of four ethno- political bodies of Ndigbo, in the South-east, Afenifere in the South-west, PANDEF in the South-south and the Middle Belt Forum in the North Central Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze feels based on the intelligence available to it that the motive of this disturbing statement is not only to overtake the mileage covered by this group in setting their people free from the hegemonic bondage but to ensure its destruction.
“Ndigbo are focused and unequivocal about what they want in a contemporary Nigeria as already articulated in the terms of engagement of this group, which is to restructure Nigeria for a true federal system where justice and equity will reign.
“We, therefore, wish to refute any position being ascribed to Ndigbo even if such position is being adduced by an Igbo that is not within the realm of the struggle to free Nigeria as encapsulated in the terms of agreement of these ethnic nationalities.”
The organisation urged the Yoruba and other Nigerians to disregard any outburst from anybody as coming from Ndigbo that is not captured in the terms of agreement of the ethnic nationalities.
According to him, “For the obvious reason of having most of their businesses scattered all over the country, particularly in Lagos, knocks out the thinking of an Igbo setting out to destroy another person’s economy. Only a fool living in a glass house uses stone to settle scores.
“Already, as it had always been during every crisis in Nigeria, Igbo businesses are a target as happened last Tuesday in Abuja when car depots, belonging to Igbos was set ablaze by hoodlums.”